Record of Determination for Re-opening of Greenbelt Park Campgrounds and Picnic Areas and Temporary Closure of the Park Trail Systems

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. §1.5, the National Park Service (NPS) is re-opening Greenbelt Park Campgrounds and Picnic Areas on September 30th, 2022, following extensive storm damage that occurred on July 12th, 2022. This re-opening will also resume camping reservations (via Recreation.gov). However, Greenbelt Park trails will remain closed in order to address the extensive tree damage along the trails and the need for maintenance personnel and contractors to safely remove trees without risking serious injury to park visitors.

The closure prohibits all vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic within the trail system within Greenbelt Park. The temporary closure is necessary for the safety of park visitors, NPS employees, and contracted crews while the work is performed. Less restrictive measures will not suffice in ensuring protection of the public, workers, and park resources. Signage indicating the trail closures will be placed at all trailheads throughout the park. Greenbelt Park trails will remain closed until such time that all storm related work has been completed.

This temporary and partial closure is not of a nature, magnitude and duration that will result in a “significant alteration in the public use pattern.” Other nearby park areas will remain open to the public. The closure will not adversely affect the park’s natural, aesthetic, or cultural values; nor require significant modification to the resource management objectives; nor is it of a highly controversial nature. Accordingly, the NPS determines that publication as rulemaking in the Federal Register, is unwarranted per 36 C.F.R. § l.5(c). This is consistent with hundreds of earlier partial and temporary park closures, the legal opinion of the Office of the Solicitor, and judicial adjudications that have upheld other National Park Service closures and public use limitations to include Spiegel v. Babbitt, 855 F. Supp. 402 (D.D.C.1994) affd in part w/o op. 56 F. 3d 1531 (D.C. Cir. 1995), reported in full, 1995 US App. Lexis 15200 (D.C. Cir. May 31, 1995); ANSWER Coalition v. Norton, No. 02-1715 (D.D.C. August 22, 2002), plaintiff's emergency motion for appeal for injunction pending appealed denied Mahoney v. Norton, No. 02-5275 (D.C. Cir. September 9, 2002) (per curium); Picciotto v. United States, No. 99-2113 (D.D.C. August 6, 2000); Picciotto v. Lujan, No. 90-1261 (D.D.C. May 30, 1990); and Picciotto v. Hodel, No. 87- 3290 (D.D.C. December 7, 1987). Pursuant to 36 C.F.R.§ 1.7, notice of this temporary trail closure will be made through media advisories and the park’s website and posting of signs at strategic locations in the affected park area. Finally, pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 1.5(c), this determination is available to the public upon request.
______________________________________________________________


Tara D. Morrison
Superintendent, National Capital Parks - East, Sept. 30, 2022